Finding My Creative Rhythm (and Letting Go of 9–5)

My creative process doesn’t always look like everyone else’s. When I get really into a project, I slip into hyper-focus — hours just disappear. To the outside world it might look like I’ve finished something “so fast,” but really it’s the same amount of work, just crammed into one long, blurry session. Before I know it, it’s dark outside, I’ve skipped breaks, and a big chunk of work is done. Honestly? It’s not the healthiest way to work, but it’s how my brain tends to go.

These days, I try to work with that instead of against it. I break projects into smaller chunks so I can pause for food, water, or a bit of rest. I’ve also found accountability groups to be a game-changer — we “body double” each other through not just the tasks, but the breaks too. Having people gently remind me to stretch, hydrate, or just step away for a few minutes makes all the difference (and helps quiet the perfectionism spiral when I get stuck).

For a long time, I thought I had to fit into the whole 9–5 productivity box — never rest, always push through, keep going no matter what. But my body and brain weren’t built for that. These days, I lean into what actually works for me. For example, I’m an early morning person. I often wake around 4 or 5am, and I do my most focused work between 6 and midday, coffee in hand. After that, I’ll often nap, then pick things up again later in the day. Is it conventional? Not at all. But it works, and that’s what matters.

If you’ve also got a “spicy brain” or live with disabilities, I’d really encourage you to notice your own rhythms. When do you feel most clear-headed? When are you most likely to get into flow? It’s worth adapting your tasks around those times, if you can. And even little rituals can help — I light a favourite wax melt or pop my crocheted “positive potato” on my desk as a cue to my brain that it’s “creative time.” Small things, but they help me get into the right headspace.

At the end of the day, productivity doesn’t look the same for everyone. And that’s a good thing.

Over to you:


What does productivity look like for you? Do you have your own little rhythms or rituals that help you get into flow?